Korean Flag Toast (aka Gwangbokjeol Toast)

With Korean Independence Day (Gwangbokjeol, 광복절: 15th August) approaching, I thought I would introduce Korean food that fits into the theme.

Today’s recipe is Korean flag toast aka Gwangbokjeol Toast (광복절 토스트). Frankly speaking, it’s not “authentic or traditional” Korean food as you can see from the above picture but it will bring you and your family’s spirit up a bit as you make this easy, fun and delicious toast.

This Korean flag toast has been featured in a popular K-pop show Happy together”  at a “Late Night Cafeteria” corner back in November 2012 by a Korean actress Lee Bo-young and it immediately has gained its popularity. While Korean flag is called Taegukgi (태극기), this TV program name the toast as Gwangbokjeol toast instead.

One good thing about making toast is that you don’t need to go to a Korean grocery store to fetch the ingredients! How good is that. 😉 I also included a few optional ingredients you could add below.

I made three different toasts and my favourite way of eating is omitting sugar (though I didn’t taste any sweetness) but including a slice of cheese, parsley and squeezing though lots of mayonnaise. I’m sure some of you might worry about the cholesterol but I think adding “reasonably” abundant mayonnaise enhances its savoury flavour and I really loved it!

I hope you enjoy making this fun Korean Flag Toast (Gwangbokjeol Toast). It’s a great breakfast and/or an afternoon snack.

(Original source: KBS, screen capture edited by http://etv.sbs.co.kr)

Ingredients for 1 serving

• 2 slice of white bread – You can use other kinds of bread (e.g. wholemeal etc.)
• 1 egg
• Mayonnaise (from a squeezable bottle for convenience‎, will be using about 2 Tbsp worth)
• A pinch of sugar – You can omit this if you don’t want it.
• 1/2 slice of ham or 1 rindless bacon rasher (small size)
• A pinch of fine sea salt
• (Optional) 1 slice cheese
• (Optional) A pinch of parsley

Steps

1.Preheat the oven at 180º for 20 mins. (While waiting on your oven to heat up, work on step 2 to step 7.)

2.Cut the ham/bacon rasher into 4 small square pieces for a simple Korean flag version. Alternatively, you could slice the ham/bacon into the real Korean flag shapes.

3.Place one slice of bread on a board. Squeeze and spread mayonnaise with a spread knife thoroughly on one side.

4.Place another slice of bread on a board. Make a round hole on bread using a round shaped cookie cutter or any round shaped object that’s strong and sharp enough to cut through the bread. (I used 1/2 cup stainless steel measuring cup.)

5.Place the bread slice (with a hole) from step 4 on top of the mayo spread bread slice from step 3. (Optionally, you could insert a slice of cheese in between the bread for more savoury cheesy taste.)

6.Squeeze the mayonnaise around the edge of the top bread slice.

7.Break and drop the egg in the hole and sprinkle a pinch of salt on the egg. (Optionally, you could also add a pinch parsley on the egg.) Place the ham/bacon on the four corners of the bread.

(Simple version of Korea flag per TV show)

(Real Korean flag version, optional cheese slice is also placed under the egg)

8.Cook the bread in the oven for 20 mins. (If you prefer slightly runnier egg white and yolk, cook it for 15 mins or less.)

(Simple Korean flag version – cooked for 15 mins)

(Real Korean flag version – cooked for 20 mins)

9. Serve and enjoy. (It tastes great with a cup of fresh fruit juice.)

Note

The outcome of the toast might vary depending on the size and fuctionality of your oven, so you might need to adjust the temperature and/or cooking time. (FYI, I used an electric oven with 56L capacity and it’s not fan forced.)

5 from 2 votes

Print

Korean Flag Toast (aka Gwangbokjeol Toast)

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

40 mins

 

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Korean Fusion

Servings: 1

Author: My Korean Kitchen

Ingredients

• 2 slices white bread
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
• A pinch sugar (optional)
• 1/2 slice ham or 1 rindless bacon rasher
• A pinch fine sea salt
• 1 slice cheese (optional)
• A pinch parsley (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven at 180º for 20 mins. (While waiting on your oven to heat up, work on step 2 to step 7.)
2. Cut the ham/bacon rasher into 4 small square pieces for a simple Korean flag version. Alternatively, you could slice the ham/bacon into the real Korean flag shapes.
3. Place one slice of bread on a board. Squeeze and spread mayonnaise with a spread knife thoroughly on one side.
4. Place another slice of bread on a board. Make a round hole on bread using a round shaped cookie cutter or any round shaped object that’s strong and sharp enough to cut through the bread. (I used 1/2 cup stainless steel measuring cup.)
5. Place the bread slice (with a hole) from step 4 on top of the mayo spread bread slice from step 3. (Optionally, you could insert a slice of cheese in between the bread for more savoury cheesy taste.)
6. Squeeze the mayonnaise around the edge of the top bread slice.
7. Break and drop the egg in the hole and sprinkle a pinch of salt on the egg. (Optionally, you could also add a pinch parsley on the egg.) Place the ham/bacon on the four corners of the bread.
8. Cook the bread in the oven for 20 mins. (If you prefer slightly runnier egg white and yolk, cook it for 15 mins or less.)
9. Serve and enjoy. (It tastes great with a cup of fresh fruit juice.)